It’s time for a new cocktail recipe! Today I’ve combined one of my favorite specialty oranges with the Moscow mule to make a blood orange Moscow mule. It’s spicy, sour, sweet, minty and altogether yummy.
Recently the husband and I were out to dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants. While the whole meal was on point, I was especially taken with the blood orange Moscow mule I ordered.
Knowing that it was a Moscow mule (which contains ginger beer, lime, and vodka) and that they added blood orange, mint, and pomegranate, I immediately set out to recreate the drink at home. I figured it couldn’t be too difficult! But of course I didn’t have any pomegranate on hand, though I did have several blood oranges, so I tried with just the blood orange juice. And…eh. I have to say that the combination of the two juices makes all the difference.
You could skip the mint if need be. I do like the flavor it adds, but it’s not essential. The pomegranate though? Go buy some when you pick up the ginger beer and you won’t be sorry!
How to Make a Blood Orange Moscow Mule
In your glass, muddle together one large mint leaf and a wedge of lime.
Then pour in the blood orange juice, vodka, and pomegranate juice.
Top up the glass with ginger beer (leaving enough room for the ice!) and fill the rest of the way with crushed ice. Drink.
How simple was that? Totally simple!
To finish it off, you can garnish with a slice of blood orange or squeeze a little more lime in. If you want a straw, I recommend a paper straw. No need to add to the giant plastic island in the ocean! There are lots of different styles, colors, and designs.
And, if you get into making Moscow mules, you might want a set of proper copper mugs. I know I’m eying them myself. 🙂
What is ginger beer?
Basically, ginger beer is what ginger ale wants to be when it grows up. As with dark chocolate versus milk chocolate, ginger beer has more adult flavor profile.
While ginger beer can be an alcoholic beer, the most common kind found today (and the kind I use in this recipe) is a nonalcoholic, sweetened, carbonated beverage similar to ginger ale. The difference being that ginger beer is much stronger and spicier in flavor. This allows it to really stand up the the strong flavors in the cocktail and give it a real ginger kick.
Depending on your store, ginger beer can be with the specialty sodas, near the regular sodas, or with the seltzers.
Do you need copper mugs for a Moscow mule?
*waves at the photos in the post* No. 🙂
While the copper mugs will keep your drink frosty, Moscow mules have no more need to be frosty than any other iced cocktail.
The big benefit of using the copper mugs is to look cool. Let’s face it: they’re pretty and give the drink a great presentation. So, while the copper mug isn’t necessary if you just want to try out the cocktail, it would be fun to have if Moscow mules are something you are going to be making frequently or if you just like to have a well stocked bar.
However, you may want to research what sort of copper mugs to buy. There are some reports out which indicate that the mix of acid and copper in Moscow mules could cause the copper to leach. On the other hand, the amount of copper leaching out will be very low in the context of a drink. Lined copper mugs or unlined copper mugs. It’s up to you!
Other Vodka Cocktails to Try:
- Watermelon Mint Lemonade
- Blushing Meyer Lemon Drop Martini
- Strawberry and Lime Vodka Collins
- Spiced Double Pear Martini
If you try my recipe for blood orange Moscow mule, I would love to hear from you in the comments with your experience and rating! You can connect with me by subscribing to my emails (see the form in the sidebar or below the recipe card), liking my FACEBOOK page, or by following me on PINTEREST.
– Happy Drinking, Annemarie
Blood Orange Moscow Mule
Ingredients
- 1 lime wedge, cut a lime into 8 wedges
- 1 mint leaf
- 2 oz vodka
- 2 oz blood orange juice
- 1 oz pomegranate juice
- 4 oz ginger beer
- crushed ice
- lime wedge or blood orange slice, as garnishes
Instructions
- In a glass, muddle together the lime wedge and mint leaf, releasing the lime juice and crushing the leaf.
- Add the vodka, blood orange juice, and pomegranate juice to the glass.
- Pour in the ginger beer and give the drink a stir. Fill the glass the rest of the way with crushed ice. Garnish with a lime wedge and/or a blood orange slice if you wish.
Notes
- Blood oranges: Blood oranges are usually found in the winter and spring, though you may get lucky and find some in the summer. Look for heavy, firm fruit. You will need about 1 and 1/2 oranges for the drink.
- Standard orange juice: Using standard orange colored orange juice in the drink has the unfortunate effect of making it a drab, beige color.
Diana Jo Woodall says
I want to try this cocktail soon. I have a question for you Annmarie; I can’t have alcohol,,so can you tell me how it is without the vodka, or do you have any good ideas of what i can replace it he vodka with.
Thank you so much !!
My Best
Diana Jo
justalittlebitofbacon says
You may have to play with the flavors a bit, but my first instinct is to increase the amount of ginger beer and orange juice by a bit to replace the vodka. Alternatively, if that’s too strong in flavor, you could replace it with some sparkling water. Good luck!
Thao @ In Good Flavor says
Although I have never had a Moscow Mule, I imagine that the pomegranate and blood orange juice (and mint!) could only make it better. This looks so good and refreshing, Annmarie!.
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thanks! They are very refreshing and I love the blood orange juice in them.